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Jim Lester, the PC MHA for Mount Pearl North, said a petition that citizens sent to the House of Assembly in March has led to greater protection for cyclists.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

St. John’s, NL (November 21, 2018) – Jim Lester, the PC MHA for Mount Pearl North, said a petition that citizens sent to the House of Assembly in March has led to greater protection for cyclists.

The petition, which Lester presented to the House on March 8, 2018, urged the government to help save the lives of vulnerable bicyclists using roadways in our province by implementing a one-metre law.

New legislation (Bill 39) will amend the Highway Traffic Act to prescribe minimum distances that a driver of a vehicle must keep from a bicycle or a pedestrian when passing.

When he presented the petition in the House in March, Lester said: “In our province, there are numerous encounters between bicycles and motor vehicles. Some of these have been fatal. Bicycles are already protected on our roadways, and are considered to have the same rights as motor vehicles according to the Highway Traffic Act. However, there is no clear definition of how a car should approach someone riding their bike. A one-metre law would erase any confusion. This law would prohibit drivers from passing anyone travelling on their bicycle in the same direction, unless there is at least one metre of open space between the vehicle and the bicycle.”

Lester pointed out that such a law is already in place in many jurisdictions in Canada, such as Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, as well as 27 states in the United States and many other countries as well.

“On the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, I welcome this legislative change to protect vulnerable bicyclists and pedestrians, and thank the citizens who signed the petition that urged this change. I encourage people to continue petitioning the House of Assembly for changes that are required to improve governance in our province.” said Lester.